Singh, Das emerge surprise finalists

Mumbai, May 19 (UNI) Unseeded Karun Uday Singh of Delhi and Debendra Das of Maharashtra today emerged surprise finalists for the boys under-16 title clash in the Xtra Premium National Series Tennis Championship being played here.

Singh prevailed over Bombay Gymkhana winner Gaurav Walia of Maharashtra 6-2, 6-1, while Das used the home advantage to upset number seven Ankit Sachdeva of Delhi 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) in an absorbing second semi-final.

Boys' under-14 number three Mohit Mayur of Tamil Nadu, the highest surviving seed, will face number eight Chetan Pandit of Andhra Pradesh in the final after their contrasting semi-final wins.

Mayur beat number seven Shahbaz Khan in three hard-fought sets, while Pandit surprised number four S V Abhishek of Andhra Pradesh 6-2, 6-2.

The winning streak of Maharashtra's Jenai Billimoria came to an end when she bowed out in the girls' under-16 semi-finals and under-14 quarter-finals.

Unseeded Sonia Dayal of Maharashtra will face number five Tanvi Shah in the under-16 final, while second seed M Divija of Andhra will take on number three Gopika Kapoor of Delhi in the under-14 final.

Results: Boys U-16 (SF): Karun Uday Singh (Del) bt Gaurav Walia (Mah) 6-2, 6-1; Debendra Das (Mah) bt 7-Ankit Sachdeva (Del) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (2).

Boys U-14 (SF): 3-Mohit Mayur (TN) bt 7-Shahbaz Khan (Mah) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4; 8-Chetan Pandit (AP) bt 4-S.V.

Abhishek (AP) 6-2, 6-2.

Girls U-16 (SF): Sonia Dayal (Mah) bt Jenai Billimoria (Mah) 6-0, 6-0; 5-Tanvi Shah (Mah) bt 8-Nimisha Mohan (Kar) 6-0, 6-0. QF: Jenai Billimoria (Mah) bt Rasika Sankpal (Mah) 6-4, 6-2; Sonia Dayal (Mah) bt 7-Gopika Kapoor (Del) 6-3, 6-3; 5-Tanvi Shah (Mah) bt 3-Garima Vatwani (Del) 6-0, 6-2; 8-Nimisha Mohan (Kar) bt 2-Prachi Nadkarni (Mah) 6-3, 6-3.

Girls U-14: (SF): 3-Gopika Kapoor (Del) bt Nupur Kaul (Mah) 7-5, 6-1; 2-M. Divija (AP) bt 4-Rashika Sunkara (Del) 6-0, 6-0.

(QF): Nupur Kaul (Mah) bt Jenai Billimoria (Mah) 6-2, 6-0; 3-Gopika Kapoor (Del) bt 7-Ankita Raina (Guj) 6-1, 6-2; 4-Rashika Sunkara (Del) bt 9-Ratnika Batra (Del) 6-6-0, 6-4; 2-M. Divija (AP) bt 8-Nova Patel (Guj) 3-6, 1-1 (retd).

Girls U-14 Doubles (Final): Natalia Khaneijo/Sharmada Balu bt Anuja Makan/Madhuri Patere 6-2, 6-3. (SF): Anuja Makan/Madhuri Patere w/o Shweta Rana/Nova Patel; Natalia Khaneijo/Sharmada Balu bt R. Shetty/Rachi Gowda 6-0, 6-1.

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